J Records Superstars Mario and Lamya To Perform

Washington, DC (September 12, 2002) — Population Services International (PSI) announced today that it will host a dinner to launch YouthAIDS, a global initiative to raise funds and awareness to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS among the world's youth. Young adults, celebrities, politicians, athletes, corporate executives and others will come together on October 7, 2002 at New York City's Tribeca Rooftop to celebrate an evening that will include special honorees, celebrity presenters including Angie Stone and Wyclef Jean, an art auction and musical performances by J Records superstars Mario and Lamya.

YouthAIDS is an upbeat global initiative that uses music and entertainment to spread messages of prevention and protection to the world's youth. This global network of HIV/AIDS prevention programs encourages choices such as fidelity, abstinence and safer sex. Through a series of PSAs, celebrity role models including Destiny's Child, Alicia Keys and Justin Timberlake are helping YouthAIDS speak to more than 600 million youths worldwide, building awareness of how this problem directly affects their future, the future of the next generation. Such communications are used in more than 60 country programs implemented by PSI, a non-profit organization, which has worked to improve the health of millions for more than 30 years.

YouthAIDS projects are conceived and executed by at-risk youth themselves, which stresses self-empowerment and leads to the prevention of millions of HIV infections at a very modest cost.

The primary objective of the YouthAIDS initiative is the mobilization and engagement of the corporate sector in HIV/AIDS prevention. Through cause-related marketing, corporate partners, and the power of their brands, YouthAIDS is able to expand its programs, and ultimately reduce infection rates.

The YouthAIDS dinner will highlight the direct impact youth-oriented businesses are making through their commitment to HIV prevention efforts. "The YouthAIDS campaign is an immediate, hands-on drive to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS and save future generations-NOW," said Kate Roberts, Director of YouthAIDS, PSI. "With the help of our corporate partners, this comprehensive, global initiative will help us reach more kids with life-saving messages."

To acknowledge strong dedication and commitment to the fight against HIV/AIDS, the YouthAIDS dinner will present Corporate Citizenship Awards to Levi Strauss & Co. and Robert D. Haas, Chairman and to MTV Networks International and William H. Roedy, President. Pioneer Achievement awards will be presented to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Patty Stonesifer, President and to the Elton John AIDS Foundation and Sir Elton John, Chairman. Honorees will be presented with awards of original design donated by artist Karim Rashid.

Robert Haas is the Chairman of Levi Strauss & Co. and President of the Levi Strauss Foundation. For over 20 years he has provided pivotal leadership in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Under his leadership, Levi Strauss & Co. became one of the first corporations to openly address HIV/AIDS in the workplace. Levi Strauss & Co. and the Levi Strauss Foundation have contributed more than $25 million in grants for HIV/AIDS care and prevention to organizations in more than 40 countries worldwide. Haas also serves as honorary director of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation.

Bill Roedy, President of MTV Networks International, oversees all growing international multimedia business operations for the brands MTV: Music Television, Nickelodeon, VH1, TMF: The Music Factory and Kindernet, which collectively provide the largest global network of localized TV channels and websites targeting kid, youth and adult audiences. After his extensive travels to HIV/AIDS devastated areas in Africa and Asia and following his advocacy for social responsibility, Roedy became an ambassador for UNAIDS in 1998. He also served as the Chair of the Global Business Coalition on HIV and AIDS from 2000-2002. Under his guidance, MTV Networks International has been an outstanding leader in educating the world's youth about HIV/AIDS through creative programming, events and more. The current Staying Alive campaign includes special programming, PSAs, one of the most comprehensive sexual health web sites for youth, grassroots events and advocacy opportunities.

Patty Stonesifer is the Co-chair and President of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, leading its mission to improve people's lives by sharing advances in health and learning with the global community. The Foundation has committed $450 million to reducing the transmission of HIV and has supported numerous efforts to educate young adults about AIDS prevention. In addition to her tireless work with the Gates Foundation, Stonesifer has served as a member of the U.S. delegation to the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on AIDS.

The career of international singer/songwriter and performer Sir Elton John has spanned more than three decades. In addition to being one of the most successful recording artists in the world, John has been one of the world's most committed leaders in the fight against HIV/AIDS. In 1992, John founded the Elton John AIDS Foundation, an international non-profit that funds AIDS prevention education and direct patient care services for those living with HIV/AIDS. As a result of John's tireless efforts, the organization has raised more than $35 million to date, with which it has supported more than 300 projects in the United Kingdom, and in 55 other countries.

PSI is the largest social marketing agency in the world. Based in Washington, DC, PSI operates health programs in over sixty countries. The PSI network delivers health products and services for HIV/AIDS prevention, family planning, malaria prevention and maternal and child health. Through social marketing, PSI harnesses the size and strength of the existing retail distribution networks to make health products and services available at low cost and to promote healthier behavior. Where public health care facilities are scarce or overtaxed, PSI fills a critical gap.

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